Hayley vs Sophie
Hayley and Sophiecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #148 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2016, Hayley was ranked #99 and Sophie #9 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #227 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #230 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2018, Hayley was ranked #96 and Sophie #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #478 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Hayley and Sophie over time
Hayley and Sophie appear together in 5 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Hayley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Hayley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Sophie in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Sophie moved ahead of Hayley in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #36 the year before became #36 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hayley and Sophie changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1985 and 2018, ending at #96 and #20.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hayley and Sophie averaged 25.3 places apart, ending at #96 and #20.
- Longest-running competitions
Hayley and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #478 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hayley #57 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1972–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophie in 47.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #48 in 1997, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #148, Sophie #6.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1985–2018
Hayley held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sophie in 25.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #18 in 2003, Sophie #5 in 2004.
The order changed in 1994: Sophie moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #32 and #36; by 1994 that had become #36 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Hayley #96, Sophie #20.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1984–2016
Hayley held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sophie in 25.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #14 in 1990, Sophie #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1992: Sophie moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #15 and #39; by 1992 that had become #25 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Hayley #99, Sophie #9.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #478, Sophie #63.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1997, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #227, Sophie #14.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Hayley | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /sɔ.fi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sophie has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Hayley and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Hayley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #478 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sophie
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #492 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls